LONDON Olympians Nick Catlin and Iain Lewers are the highest profile pre-season signings by Holcombe in their bid to gain Premier status.

The pair are joined by England goalkeeper George Pinner following the Kent club's recruitment of Barry Middleton and Dan Fox last season.

After Holcombe's signings of Maddie Hinch and Laura Unsworth a year ago, Nicola White and Sam Quek have moved from Leicester and Reading respectively.

Last season Holcombe's women won promotion to the Premier League while their men narrowly missed the play-offs to the elite tier after finishing second to Southgate, one point adrift, in the East Conference.

With their new signings their men will be strong contenders to go one better next season and their women can be expected to mix it with the top Premier teams Canterbury, Reading and Surbiton.

England performance director Danny Kerry does not see both men's and women's Premier leagues having just four or five powerful teams as adverse developments.

The clubs without the same financial resources will have to develop strong youth policies to compete

Danny Kerry

"It's a natural trend," he said. "The clubs without the same financial resources will have to develop strong youth policies to compete."

This is the route taken by Surbiton who, as a community club, can only pay coaches, not players.